Drunken Swedish soldiers charged for ambushing group of campers
Published: 6 May 11 08:04 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/33614/20110506/
Three drunken and uniformed members of Sweden's National Home Guard (Hemvärnet) have been charged for attacking a group of campers in the forests of eastern Sweden, south of Stockholm.
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"Bastard Afghans, bastard Iranians, go home!" screamed one of the soldiers, according to the local Eskilstuna-Kuriren newspaper.
The attack, which took place in the summer of 2009 between a platoon of national guard troops and seven campers, stemmed from a dispute over which group should be allowed to sleep in a shelter along the Sörmlandsleden hiking trail.
Following the initial disagreement, the soldiers decided to exact their revenge by returning to the campsite in their canoes under the cover of darkness in an attempt to intimidate the unsuspecting campers.
Under questioning following the incident, the soldiers admitted they were intoxicated and in uniform when the carried out their ambush on the unsuspecting campers.
Three of the men in the Home Guard platoon have now been charged with assault, according to the paper.
Despite the charges, the Swedish Armed Forces have no plans to discipline the soldiers any further.
Sweden's National Home Guard is a part of the Army, serving as part of the country's national territorial defence.
The volunteer Home Guard troops undergo three months of basic training, after which they are expected to train an additional 20 hours per year.
The primary role of the Home Guard to protect vital infrastructure against attack or sabotage, as well as assist in case of civilian disasters.
According to the Armed Forces website, there are currently around 30,000 active Home Guard soldiers in Sweden.
External link: National Home Guard website »
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"an additional 20 hours per year"
No, four days for guard company soldiers and eight days for insats company soldiers
Where does it state their role to protect civilians from aggression? Oh, apparently that is not part of their mission.
Having been in the military, I can say that some people who join up are gun-waving yahoos with anger management issues. The military is seen as a welfare job that gives good benefits in return for little effort and as an opportunity to strap on a gun and gain the power and respect that commands. When a soldier like this with a gun and a few stripes feels disrespected, he doesn't know how to respond and ends up acting the fool. While there are plenty of good, decent, smart people in the military, these Swedish racist drunkards are more common than they should be in the military ranks. I say kick 'em out.
"Where does it state their role to protect civilians from aggression? "
Huvuduppgifter för alla hemvärnskompanier
4 dagars årlig avtalsstid för hemvärnssoldater.
* bevaka skyddsobjekt
* skydda skyddsobjekt mot sabotageförband
* ytövervaka
* stödja samhället
* spärra/förstöra flygfält
* förstöra förbindelser
* blockera hamn
* gränsövervaka
* starta upp och betjäna anläggning
* transport- och trafikleda
would "ytövervaka" and "stödja samhället cover protecting civilians?
@Grindsprint
"can they do that?? "
no.
It should be considered as 'Virtual Combat' training, it's gives a sense of realism to it.
In this instance, a potential training camp for terrorists makes perfect sense.
It sends a clear message to all the insurgents thinking of making any 'plans' in Sverige.
Swedens answer to the SAS.
It would be hilarious if it wasn't so sad.
I really doubt that soldiers were drunk.
"Why doesn't it say 'SVERIGE'? "
cos that's the badge for international operations.
Because I'm beginning to see a pattern, here...
@MichiganLady
Lol, you're right :D I can say apart from the news we read in thelocal, everything else in Sweden is good actually given that you live in Sweden.